Roller clutch device.



E. R. PACKER.

ROLLER CLUTCH DEVICE. APPLIGATIQN4 FILED MAY 1, 1912.

1,087,81 5, Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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E. R. PACKER. ROLLER CLUTCH DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 1, 1912.

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Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

EBEN RAY PACKER, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS.

ROLLER CLUTCH DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. f7, Zl94.

Application filed May 1, 1912. VSerial No. 694,306.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBEN R. PACKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVilmette, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Roller Clutch Devices, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to produce a simple and novel clutch device which will permit two members to be rotated together in either direction or be rot-ated relative to each other.

A further object of my invention is t0 produce a tool composed of a few simple parts, compactly arranged, which may be rotated step by step in either direction.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in theclaims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its object and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal central section through a wrench arranged in accordance with a preferred form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the wrench with the driv ing member removed, the roller being in section; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification; Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is an elevation of the driven member of the wrench shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 is a view looking toward the left in Fig. 8.

In the drawings I have illust-rated my invention only as applied to a wrench and I shall, for the sake of brevity, conne the detailed description to this particular use of my invention; but I desire to have it understood that my invention is not limited in its use to wrenches or even to what is commonly known as tools, since it is applicable in many situations where it is desirable to connect together a driving member and a driven member so that a rotary movementV in either direct-ion Vmay be produced in one' member by an oscillatory movement of the other member, or where it is desired to clutch the two members together for movement in one direction and leave them free for independent movement in the opposite direction.

Referring to Figs. l to 4 of the drawings, 1 represents a tubular driving member into which extends a, driven'member 2, the driven member being preferably cylindrical and fitting within the driving member so as to be free to rotate therein. 'Ihe members l and 2 are preferably connected together so as to hold them against relative axial movements. This may conveniently be accomplished by providing the driven member with an annular peripheral grooveV 3 into which extend screws or pins 4 carried by the outer member. The driving member, in the case of-a wrench or other tool, may be provided with a handle 5 for turning the same; and the driven member may be provided with a suitable shank 6 which serves as the tool or as the holder for a tool. The member 2 has portions cut away on one side so as to form two clutch faces 7 and 8,V respectively, which lie on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation. In the arrangement shown the two clutch faces lie-side by side and they may therefore be formed conveniently by cutting a channel across one side of the driven member. In the chamber formed between the two clutch faces and the overlying portion of the driving member, I arrange a roller 9 which lies parallel with the axis of rotation and serves to clutch the driving member and the driven member together under certain conditions. When the roller lies upon the clutch face '8, as indicated in Fig. 3, a counter-clockwise movement of the driving member will cause the roller to bind between the clutch face on the driven member and the driving member, thus connecting the two members together so that they will rotate as one. If the driving meme ber be rotated in the opposite direction, the roller will turn backward and so disconnect the driving member from the driven member. `When the roller lies upon the other clutch face, then a clockwise movement of the driving member causes the driven member to be connected thereto and rotate therewith, while a counter-clockwise rotation releases the two members from each other. It will thus be seen that by keeping the roller always on one clutch face or the other, a step by step rotation of the driven member may be produced in either direction (depending upon which of the clutch faces is in action) by simply oscillat-ing the driving member.

In accordance with my invention I provide means for normally maintaining the roller upon one clutch face or the other and for permitting the roller to be shifted whenever desired. To this end I have provided the driven member with a radially-yieldable stop lying' between the two clutch faces and adapted to project above the clutch faces sufficiently to prevent the roller from rolling from one face to the other under a backward movement of the driving member. This sto-p may conveniently consist of a plug or plunger 10 slidably mounted in a socket 11 extending into the driven member from the plane of the clutch faces, the plug or plunger being press-ed outwardly beyond the plane of the clutch faces by means of a spring 12 lying beneath it in the socket. The outer end of the plug or plunger is preferably tapered 'as indicated at 13. The parts are so proportioned that normally the plunger is forced out far enough to cause its tapered end to engage with the roller and press it toward its working position with suflicient force to hold it against rattling. Then the driving member is moved backward, the roller simply rolls on the pointed end of the plunger but does not depress it sutliciently to pass beyond the same. Consequently when the parts are in the positions indicated in Fig. 3, the driven member may be rotated step b v step in the counter-clockwise direction through an oscillatory movement of the driving member, without fear that the roller will fall over to the other clutch face in any angular position of the tool. Wlhen it is desired to shift the roller to the other clutch face it is only necessary to press it laterally with sutlicient force to cause the plunger or plug to be depressed far enough to leave room above it for the passage of the roller. Then, as soon as the roller has passed to the other clutch face, the plunger springs out and yieldingly locks it in its new position. l? or the purpose of shifting the roller from one clutch face to the other, I have mounted on the driven member a ring 14 which lies just in front of the driving member and, as far as external appearances are concerned, forms a continuation of the latter. The ring is loose on the driven member so that it may be turned freely thereon. The roller 9 is made in the form of a cylindrical tube and through the same extends a pin 15 rigidly connected at one end to the member 1li and extending from the side thereof parallel with the axis of rotation. It will be seen that by turning the ring in one direction or the other, relative to the driven member, the roller will be forced against the spring plunger' so as to depress the latter and permit the roller .to pass from the clutch face on which it originally rested to the other clutch face. This shifting of the roller may be accomplished either by turning the ring itself or by turning the driving member and placing a finger upon the ring so as to cause the ring to travel with the driving member.

In order that the shifting device for the roller will not interfere with the free action of the roller as a clutching member, I provide a raised shoulder 16 on the driven member just in front of the ro-ller and, when the ring is turned in one direction or the other, for shifting the roller, the pin 15 engages with the shoulder at one side or the other and arrests the turning movement of the ring. The diameter of the opening through the roller is greater than the diameter of the pin so that when the pin is arrested by the shoulder 16 the roller lies loosely between the cooperating clutch faces. The shoulder 1G also serves as a guide for the adjacent end of the roller. The shifting ring may conveniently be held in place by forming on the driven member 2 a reduced neck 17 which fits into the tool 6, placing the ring upon this reduced portion, and securing the reduced portion to the member G by means of a rivet 18 or otherwise with the parts so adjusted that the ring is left free to rotate.

The interior of the driving member may be left smooth, if desired, but I prefer to provide a series of longitudinal grooves 19 distributed about the same so as to provide seats which give the roller a. firmer hold.

In Figs. 5 to 9 I have shown another form of my invention, the principal difference between this and the forms heretofore described consisting in displacing the two clutch faces on the driven member relative to each other longitudinally of the axis of rotation. The roller is shifted from one clutch face to the other by sliding` it longitudinally. Referring to these figures, 241; represents a tubular driving member and 25 a driven member extending into and revoluble in the driving member. Relative aXial movements are prevented by means of a pin 26 extending from the driving member into a groove 25;L in the driven member. The driven member is ilattened on one side to a point slightly beyond the plane extending at right angles to the flattened portion and containing the axis of the driven member so as to produce a clutch face 27. Beyond one end of the flattened portion 27 is a similar flattened portion 28 which is oppositely located with respect to the clutch face 27. By this arrangement, two clutch faces lying end toend and partially overlapping at the center, are produced. The overlapping of the clutch faces is suflicient to permit a roller 29, corresponding to the rollers 9 and 19 in the other forms of my invention, to be slid lengthwise from one clutch face to the other. The roller does not engage directly with the driving member but lies within a ring 30 which lies between the roller and the driving member and has a sliding lit in the latter. Projecting inwardly from the ring between the ends thereof is an annular flange or rib 31 which extends into an annular groove 32 surrounding the roller and thus prevents relative endwise movements between the roller and the ring. The ring is prevented from turning in the driving member by means of pins 33 which extend from the ring through elongated longitudinal slots 3st in the driving member. IThe outer ends of the pins 33 may conveniently extend into a sleeve 35 which surrounds Vand has a sliding fit on the driving member. It will be seen that by moving the sleeve longitudinally, the ring and the roller move with it so that when the parts are turned so as to bring the roller into alinement with the overlapping portions of the clutch faces, the roller may be shifted from one clutch face to the other by simply sliding the sleeve longitudinally on the driving member.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the roller is shown in engagement with the clutch face 27. Consequently a clockwise movement of the driving member, as viewed in Fig. 6, will produce a simultaneous movement of the driven member. INhen the driving member is turned in the counterclockwise direction, the roller rolls backward and the driving member is freed from the driven member. When it is desired to bring the other clutch face into play, the driving member is turned until the roller is brought to the center, and then the sleeve may be moved longitudinally so as to carry the roller into engagement with the other clutch face.

By moving the sleeve 35 to an intermediate position, bringing the roller partly on the clutch face 27 and partly on the clutch face 28, the roller abuts against the radial shoulders 37 and 38 at the inner ends of the clutch faces 27 and 28, respectively, and locks the driving member and the driven members together against relative rotary movements in either direction.

'While I have illustrated only two preferred forms of my invention as applied to a too-l and have described them with considerable particularity, I do not desire to limit myself to specific structural details or to a device intended for only use as -a tool; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which fall within theterms employed in the denitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other, the inner member having portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said faces and the overlying portion of the outer member, a yieldable device on the inner member between said faces for normally preventing the roller from passing from one face to the other, and means mounted on the driven member for forcing the roller past said yieldable device.

2. In combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other, the inner member having portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said faces and the overlying portion of the outer member, a yieldable device on the inner member between said faces for normally preventing the roller from passing from one face to the other, and means carried by one of said members and normally in engagement with said roller for forcing the roller past said yieldable device.

8. In combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other, the inner member having portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formedbetween said faces and the overlying portion of the outer member, a

yieldable device on the inner member be-.

tween said faces for normally preventing the roller from passing from one face to the other, a ring mounted on one of said members so as to be movable angularly thereon, and a part carried by said ring for forcing said roller past said yieldable device.

4. In combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other and having relative revoluble movements, one of said members having portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said faces and the corresponding portion of the other member, a yieldable device mounted between said clutch faces on the member having said faces for normally preventing the roller from passing from one face to the other, a ring angularly movable on one of said members, and a part extending from said ring to said roller to force the roller past said yieldable device.

5. ln combination, a tubular driving member, a driven member extending into and revoluble in the driving member, said driven member having portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said faces and the overlying portion of the driving member, a yieldable device upon said driven member between said faces for normally preventing the roller from passing from one face to the other, a ring revolubly mounted on the driven member, and a part extending from the ring for forcing the roller past said yieldable member.

G. ln combination, a tubular driving member, a driven member extending into and revoluble in the driving member, said driven member having' portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said faces and the overlying portion of the` driving member, a yieldable device upon said driven member between said faces for normally preventing the roller from passing from one face to the other, a ring revolubly mounted on the driven member, said roller having an axial opening extending therethrough, and a part extending from said ring into said opening for caus- .ing the roller to be forced past said yieldable device when the ring is turned on the driven member.

T. ln combination, a tubular driving meinber, a driven member extending into and revoluble in the driving member, said driven member having portions cut away to form two clutch faces lying side by side on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said faces and the overlying portion of the driving member, a ring mounted on the driven member so as to be movable angularly thereon, part extending from said ring to the roller to cause the roller to be shifted from one of said faces to the other when the ring is turned, and a i,fieldable device for holding the roller and the ring so as to prevent the roll-er from traveling of its own accord from one of said clutch faces to the other, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said yieldable device is rendered inoperative to restrain an angular movement of the ring when a predetermined force is applied upon the ring.

8. ln combination, a driving member and a driven member revoluble one in the other,

the inner member having two clutch faces lying on opposite sides of a plane containing the axis of rotation, a. roller lying within the chamber formed between said clutch faces and the overlying portion of the outer member, said roller having an axial opening therethrough, a device for yieldingly holding the roller against movementfrom one of said clutch faces to the other, a part mounted on one of said members so as to be movable angularly thereon, and a pin extending from said part into the opening of the roller.

9. in combination, a driving member and a driven member revoluble one in the other, the inner member having two clutch faces lying on opposite sides of a plane contain* ing the axis of rotation, a roller lying within the chamber formed between said clutch faces and the overlying portion of the outer member, said roller having an axial opening therethrough, a device for yieldingly holding the roller against movement from 'pne of said clutch faces to the other, a part mounted on one of said members so as to be movable angularly thereon, and a pin extending' from said part into the opening of the roller, shoulders on one of said members for limiting the angular movement of said part so as to leave the roller free to turn on the pin in either of the extreme positions of the pin.

lO. ln combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped on each other, two clutch faces on one member, a roller between said clutch faces and the other member, a ring surrounding one of said members, and means on said ring for shifting said roller from one of said faces to the other.

ll. ln combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other, one member being cut away to form a chamber between said members, a clutch device arranged in said chamber and having two working positions, a ring surrounding one of said members, and a positive connection between said ring and said clutch device to shift the latter from either working position to the other.

l2. ln combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other, one of said members being cut away to form a chamber between said members, a clutch device in said chamber having two working positions, a yieldable barrier arranged in said chamber in position to engage with said device and hold it yieldingly against moving from either position to the other, a shifting element for said clutch device mounted on one of said members, and a positive connection between said shifting element and said clutch device.

13. In combination, a driving member and a driven member telescoped upon each other,

one member being out away to form a ohamdevice from either Working position to the ber between said members, a clutch device other. 10 arranged in said chamber and having two In testimony whereof, I sign this specifiworking positions, a ring mounted on the cation in the presence of two witnesses. mutilated member so as to have a limited EBEN RAY PACKER.

angular movement thereon and be held Witnesses:

against axial movements, and means assoei- WM. F. FREUDENBEICH, ated with the ring for shifting said clutch RUBY V. BRYDGES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

